| dc.description.abstract | Environmental conservation is an essential practice of protecting the
environment, on individual, organizational or governmental levels, for the benefit of the
natural environment and (or) humans. The main purpose of the study was to find out the
roles played by community based organizations in conservation of the environment in
Kapcherop division Elgeyo Marakwet County. The study was steered by the following
objectives; to identify the role of CBOs in community mobilization towards
environmental conservation in Kapcherop division Elgeyo Marakwet County, to
establish the role of CBOs in promoting environmental conservation using income
generating activities in Kapcherop division Elgeyo Marakwet County, to establish the
role of CBOs in implementation of environmental conservation practices and to
determine the role of CBOs in monitoring and evaluation of environmental practices in
Kapcherop. The researcher used a descriptive survey study design to carry out the study
because it provides in-depth information about the respondents. This study targeted 5
community based organizations and 5 environmental experts in Kapcherop division.
The researcher therefore targeted a total of 217 respondents which comprised of 212
respondents from the selected CBO’s and 5 environmental experts in Kapcherop
division. Stratified sampling technique was employed in selecting the sample size of the
respondents. A sample size of 140 respondents was selected for sampling. The study
employed the use of both the questionnaires and interview schedules to collect data. The
data was collected and analyzed through descriptive statistics and inferential statistics
where in descriptive analysis, tables, frequencies, means and percentages were used in
interpreting the respondent’s perception on issues in the questionnaires. In inferential
analysis, Pearson’s correlation statistics was used to test the relationship between the
variables. The study findings are expected to benefit: residents of Kapcherop division,
environmental conservation agencies such as Kenya Forest Service, UNEP and other
CBO’s, the government, NGOs, and other private organizations as well as the scholars.
The study found out that CBOs play a vital role in promoting environmental
conservation, mobilizing the community, implementing environmental conservation
practices and monitoring and evaluation. The study concluded that CBOs in Kapcherop
Division Elgeyo Marakwet County play a vital role in conservation of the environment;
CBOs in study area have sufficient budgetary allocations for all income generating
activities necessary for environmental conservation, the CBOs have managed to
mobilize the local community in conservation of the environment. This study concluded
further that there is no effective monitoring and evaluation by CBOs in the division. The
study recommends that Monitoring and supervision of CBOs be done to ensure
environmental conservation is not compromised. The county environmental secretary
should be empowered to strengthen monitoring of CBOs, local leaders and individuals
who are participating in conservation of environment. CBOs leaders should ensure that
their employees are effectively equipped with skills for effective conservation of
environment. The environmental experts as well need to ensure that CBOs and any
other stakeholder participating in conservation of environment are well managed and
monitored so as to realize the main objective of conserving the environment. | en_US |
